HOW DOES YOUR OPENING TITLE SEQUENCE USE, DEVELOP OR CHALLENGE FORMS AND CONVENTIONS OF REAL MEDIA PRODUCTS?
We took a lot of our inspiration from the opening titles to TV series like Dexter, incorporating similar cooking scenes that have murder/death symbolism. For our murder shots we took inspiration from the iconic torture scene from reservoir dogs, [1992] and its use of music and presentation of violence. The grin shown by our killer was inspired by the iconic axe scene in The shining [1980]. A lot of the more gory, quick scenes, as well of the frequent images of raw meat and organs,were inspired by the use of meat in the TV series Hannibal. Many of these scenes had a certain recognisable aesthetic or style to them, that we aimed to recreate, in the context of our own OTS and its plot.
CHALLENING CONVENTIONS
Most modern Horror films use quite low lighting throughout, to create atmosphere. To challenge this convention we deliberately used high key lighting in any and all scenes where there wasn't obvious horror connotations, and to add a clear contrast between scenes. this gives the audience a false sense of security, and safety that is instantly taken.
Another convention we challenged in our OTS was with the appearance of our killer. Most horror films, like hush [2016] or scream [1996] use deliberately threatening killers in masks to add some mystery and make them seem scarier. We came from a different angle and had the appearance of our killer clear, and much more unthreatening.This was to portray our killer more as a protagonist than in traditional horror. By making him unthreatening, it tricks the audience, as they don't expect him to be such a gruesome killer, and makes it much more shocking when it the murder scene occurs.
Another convention we challenged was the pacing of our OTS. Traditional horror films often establish a lot more and have a slow tense pace in their OTS. We instead had a fairly quick pace where shots switch back and forth, which again makes the gore and violence more shocking.
Finally in our OTS we challenge the conventions of horror dramatically by having the killer at one point looking directly at the camera, this is known as breaking the fourth wall (having a character directly address/acknowledge the audience). This rarely happens in horror media and therefore appeals to a very niche audience. Because of this large difference to the 'conventional' horror aspects, it may not appeal to a large audience causing larger distribution companies such as 'Universal' and 'Warner Bros' to not want to fund it/promote it as there is not a guarantee for success.
Another convention we challenged in our OTS was with the appearance of our killer. Most horror films, like hush [2016] or scream [1996] use deliberately threatening killers in masks to add some mystery and make them seem scarier. We came from a different angle and had the appearance of our killer clear, and much more unthreatening.This was to portray our killer more as a protagonist than in traditional horror. By making him unthreatening, it tricks the audience, as they don't expect him to be such a gruesome killer, and makes it much more shocking when it the murder scene occurs.
Another convention we challenged was the pacing of our OTS. Traditional horror films often establish a lot more and have a slow tense pace in their OTS. We instead had a fairly quick pace where shots switch back and forth, which again makes the gore and violence more shocking.
Finally in our OTS we challenge the conventions of horror dramatically by having the killer at one point looking directly at the camera, this is known as breaking the fourth wall (having a character directly address/acknowledge the audience). This rarely happens in horror media and therefore appeals to a very niche audience. Because of this large difference to the 'conventional' horror aspects, it may not appeal to a large audience causing larger distribution companies such as 'Universal' and 'Warner Bros' to not want to fund it/promote it as there is not a guarantee for success.
CONFORMING TO CONVENTIONS
A very common horror convention that we conformed to was the type of actor we used for our victim, we deliberately chose a young girl, who we portrayed as vulnerable to appeal to the male audience and make it seem more realistic.
Another more modern convention we conformed to was using a unsuspecting murder who is revealed by surprise. This was done by having clues that suggest that he was the murder but they are subtle in order to make the final reveal surprising.
A final convention we conformed to was the use of atmospheric dark music in more disturbing scenes, as in the murder scene our contrapuntal music fades and is replaced with an ambient drone.
Another more modern convention we conformed to was using a unsuspecting murder who is revealed by surprise. This was done by having clues that suggest that he was the murder but they are subtle in order to make the final reveal surprising.
A final convention we conformed to was the use of atmospheric dark music in more disturbing scenes, as in the murder scene our contrapuntal music fades and is replaced with an ambient drone.
DEVELOPING CONVENTIONS
We developed a convention by having both a strange contrapuntal opening to our soundtrack, uncommon to horror, that slowly transitions into a more conventional dark soundtrack as the victim(s) are revealed and killed.
Another convention we developed was the acting by our killer, who appears unthreatening at first, but then shows more conventional horror behaviour in the form of the violence he exhibits.
Another convention we developed was the acting by our killer, who appears unthreatening at first, but then shows more conventional horror behaviour in the form of the violence he exhibits.